Ten years ago, Plácido Domingo once mentioned that he would like to perform with Kristīna Opolais in her homeland, Latvia. This summer, his wish will finally come true.
American tenor Michael Fabiano, who is currently considered one of the most sought-after opera singers in the world, will also come to Jūrmala.
Three stars of the world opera, a symphony orchestra, a choir, magnificent music, summer, and the sea — on July 29, the Dzintari Concert Hall will have everything needed for a true celebration of music.
When it comes to Plácido Domingo, the first word that comes to mind is "legend." And this is well-deserved. A native of a musical family, he first took to the opera stage at the age of 18 and has performed leading roles for over sixty years. He has been warmly welcomed by the largest opera houses and concert halls in the world.
Domingo's creative biography includes more than 150 roles. Already in the 21st century, the famous singer expanded his repertoire by adding baritone roles to his tenor parts. He has given the most performances at the stage of the New York Metropolitan Opera, where he sang every season from 1968 to 2009. He has led the opera houses of Los Angeles and Washington, successfully worked as a conductor, performed leading roles in dozens of world premieres, and inspired composers to create new works specifically for his unique voice.
It was Domingo who founded the international competition for young vocalists "Operalia," which has become a launching pad for many future stars of the opera stage. Throughout his career, he has received a vast number of prestigious awards, including nine Grammy Awards, five Latin Grammys, and two Emmys.
The story of Kristīna Opolais about their first meeting is all the more touching. During dinner, they talked for a long time about life and profession, and the Latvian prima asked Domingo a question she had always dreamed of asking Maria Callas: "Are you still afraid to go on stage?" To which the maestro replied, "More and more each time."
Kristīna Opolais and Plácido Domingo are united by their dedication to the profession, refusal to make creative compromises, the ability to imbue each note with meaning and emotion, as well as outstanding vocal and acting talent. They have already performed together on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera and recently participated in joint tours in Asia. This summer, Latvian audiences will also be able to hear this unique duet.
Kristīna Opolais has long secured a solid place among the leading opera singers in the world. She has performed on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera in London, the Bavarian State Opera, the Zurich Opera House, and many other prestigious venues. Among the conductors she has collaborated with are Daniel Barenboim, Sir Antonio Pappano, Sir Simon Rattle, Andris Nelsons, Fabio Luisi, and Kirill Petrenko. She is regularly invited to the largest music festivals in Europe and America — in Baden-Baden, Tanglewood, Verbier, and other centers of musical life.
The third participant in the gala concert will be Michael Fabiano. Today, the 42-year-old American tenor is at the peak of his career. From 2005 to 2009, he won the largest vocal competitions in the USA annually, and in 2014 he became the first singer to receive two of the most prestigious American awards for young performers — the Beverly Sills Award and the Richard Tucker Award — in one year.
Fabiano successfully performs on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera and the San Francisco Opera, and he is warmly welcomed at the Los Angeles Opera, London’s Covent Garden, La Scala in Milan, the Paris National Opera, the Royal Theatre of Madrid, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
After a recent performance of the role of Lensky in the production of "Eugene Onegin" in London, a reviewer from The Sunday Times wrote: "In the forty years of this production at the Royal Opera, no one has managed to charm the audience in the role of Lensky as much... A brilliant debut."
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